When We Dead Awaken eBook

[Smiles and looks at him.] Am I to take these as
oracular utterances, Mr. Ulfheim?

ULFHEIM.

Lord preserve me from playing the oracle! [Urgently,
pointing up towards the heights.] But don’t
you see that the storm is upon us? Don’t
you hear the blasts of wind?

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

[Listening.] They sound like the prelude to the Resurrection
Day.

ULFHEIM.

They are storm-blasts form the peaks, man! Just
look how the clouds are rolling and sinking—­soon
they’ll be all around us like a winding -sheet!

IRENE.

[With a start and shiver.] I know that sheet!

MAIA.

[Drawing ULFHEIM away.] Let us make haste and get
down.

ULFHEIM.

[To PROFESSOR RUBEK.] I cannot help more than one.
Take refuge in the hut in the mean-time—­while
the storm lasts. Then I shall send people up
to fetch the two of you away.

IRENE.

[In terror.] To fetch us away! No, no!

ULFHEIM.

[Harshly.] To take you by force if necessary—­for
it’s a matter of life and death here.
Now, you know it. [To MAIA.] Come, then—­and
don’t fear to trust yourself in your comrade’s
hands.

MAIA.

[Clinging to him.] Oh, how I shall rejoice and sing,
if I get down with a whole skin!

ULFHEIM.

[Begins the descent and calls to the others.] You’ll
wait, then, in the hut, till the men come with ropes,
and fetch you away.

[ULFHEIM, with MAIA in his
arms, clambers rapidly but warily down
the precipice.

IRENE.

[Looks for some time at PROFESSOR RUBEK with terror-stricken
eyes.] Did you hear that, Arnold?—­men are
coming up to fetch me away! Many men will come
up here—–­

PROFESSOR RUBEK.

Do not be alarmed, Irene!

IRENE.

[In growing terror.] And she, the woman in black—­she
will come too. For she must have missed me long
ago. And then she will seize me, Arnold!
And put me in the strait-waistcoat. Oh, she
has it with her, in her box. I have seen it
with my own eyes—–­